Feature: Chinese master cherishes Wushu as life-long gift

For nearly 30 years, Shou-Yu Liang has stood watching over his students at his martial arts school in the east side of Vancouver, which is not far from the well-known Chinatown.?

The school has become a hub in the community, standing guard over the gritty streets. Inside, Liang -- a native of Sichuan province in southwest China -- uses his 60 years of martial arts training experience to teach his students the keys to their own defense -- fitness, determination and discipline.

He's not the kind of man who likes to discuss his own achievements, but his daughter Helen Liang, who has succeeded her retired father as the president of Shou-Yu Liang Wushu Taiji Qigong Institute, knows well his effect on the community.

In a recent interview with Xinhua in the school, Helen recalled her father's teaching life here in Vancouver and said proudly that her father's story was almost like a legend.

"You know, his stories, his background and how he established the school here and how he taught Wushu his whole life have won him a good reputation. And the students here can see how even now, in his mid-seventies, he's still doing it everyday. So it's a great role model for all of us."

Master Liang's martial arts ancestry goes back five generations in Sichuan. He started learning Wushu at the age of five and has competed, won, coached, and judged for the rest of his life. In 1987, he opened this school in Vancouver, where his students study and train in several Wushu disciplines, led by instructors are unpaid volunteers.

Helen said her father's whole world is this school, but his reach has extended much further. Since 1985, he has trained most of the top-ranked North American Wushu competitors, and many of his students have become instructors themselves.

"My father always says that he doesn't know anything besides martial arts, or Chinese Kong Fu. So that's his focus. And since the very beginning to now, he's never lost that passion to learn and teach."

Over the years, Master Liang has won countless awards. He's produced videos and written 13 books about martial arts, some of these books have been translated into 13 languages. But his number one job remains his students.

Svetta Chen, who has been here since she was six years old, said Wushu has taught her discipline, confidence, determination, etc. "So really, anything I need to get done I always think off a Wushu model, and everything has been shaped by what I do here."

Another middle-aged student Anna Tikina told Xinhua that Mr. Liang and the school has been a real inspiration for all the students.

"I have been here for about 10 years, and I brought my daughter who has been here for about two years, and my son is too young to join, but we hope he'll be here soon enough."

When Liang, now 73 with grey hare, is asked to share his greatest pride from his decades spent in this gym and countless others, he said it was his determination and persistence that came to his mind.

"I still keep. I never change my career. In China, I taught Wushu for 17 years. And here in Canada, even though I've come across many difficulties, I never give up. I know I can only succeed if I keep going and keep going,"Liang said, with a gentle smile in his face. Endite